Fine Gael and Labour will tonight propose a Dáil motion seeking an inquiry into the Government decision to buy a farm in north Co Dublin to site a new prison.
The site at Thornton Hall will cost the State €30 million (€200,000 per acre), a figure estimated to be between six and eight times the market value. If tonight's motion is passed the Comptroller and Auditor General will examine the sale.
Spokesperson for north Dublin residents, Teresa McDonnell
Agreed in January, the deal is due to be completed early next month when a remaining 90 per cent of the purchase price will be paid by the Government.
Fine Gael justice spokesman Jim O'Keefe today raised concerns about the decision-making process that preceded the agreement.
"It emerged last night that the original site, that had been selected after a protracted search, was still available to the Department when they rushed ahead and sealed the deal on the Thornton Hall lands. This revelation flies in the face of the impression conveyed by the Minister that the original selected site was no longer a viable option," he said.
"Why, when the vendor of the original site had indicated a need to clarify certain tax matters before the deal could proceed, was the Thornton Hall site identified, selected and purchase agreed in just eight days?"
Labour leader Pat Rabbitte has questioned the suitability of the site and believes that its remote location will prove problematic for prisoners' families.
"There are also serious question marks about the level of infrastructure in the area," he said.
North Dublin residents marched on the Dáil at lunchtime to highlight their opposition to the development and will later hold an open meeting for politicians to seek support for tonight's cross party motion. The Dáil resumes business today after the summer recess.
Speaking to ireland.comat the protest, spokeswoman for the campaigners Teresa McDonnell said that the site was unsuitable and that the Minister for Justice Michael McDowell had made a mistake.
"He should let the comptroller investigate it and if this turns out to be the most suitable site in Dublin for the prison, well that's great," she said.
"If it's not we will know now, not when the deal is closed, not when the money has been handed over, not in five years time when the tribunal goes ahead. Our community will be devastated before a single brick is laid on top of another. No one seems to know the final cost of this prison. It could top €500 million, it could be more."